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I'm aware that parking sensors only come on in reverse and that a button in the center console can be pressed to manually turn on the front sensors. But I'm wondering: is there a hack, or anything that can be done, to get the front sensors to engage automatically every time I'm pulling up to something close?

Doesn't an automatic version give you too many unnecessary warnings when driving in heavy, slow moving or stop-and-go traffic? I have no issues with turning the parking assist manually when needed for a frontal approach.

Doesn't an automatic version give you too many unnecessary warnings when driving in heavy, slow moving or stop-and-go traffic? I have no issues with turning the parking assist manually when needed for a frontal approach.

Actually, it is possible to hit something with the front even if you are moving the vehicle backwards. When turning, for example, you could hit a wall or a vehicle beside you. So the front sensors' warning does make sense. The visual cues displayed on the screen will indicate which areas of the front or rear are close to obstacles, and how close.

I'd prefer the system default for the front to be on-below some speed, with the button to turn it off in situations not appropreiate to it's use

Seems this would be annoying as it would come on every few seconds in bumper to bumper traffic or at every stop light. Seems easier to turn it on for the once or twice a day that I would need the front sensors rather than turn it off for the many times the vehicle goes slow. The default on would normally get shut off in traffic and then have to be turned back on for parking anyway. I think you would find it necessary to turn it off many more times than you now have to manually turn it on.

Seems this would be annoying as it would come on every few seconds in bumper to bumper traffic or at every stop light. Seems easier to turn it on for the once or twice a day that I would need the front sensors rather than turn it off for the many times the vehicle goes slow. The default on would normally get shut off in traffic and then have to be turned back on for parking anyway. I think you would find it necessary to turn it off many more times than you now have to manually turn it on.

Actually, it is possible to hit something with the front even if you are moving the vehicle backwards. When turning, for example, you could hit a wall or a vehicle beside you. So the front sensors' warning does make sense. The visual cues displayed on the screen will indicate which areas of the front or rear are close to obstacles, and how close.

I agree in general, but it beeps even when the only obstacles are directly in front of the car, and would be impossible to hit while in reverse. Given that it beeps for the first few feet every time I back out of my garage, I have to pay extra attention to *not* simply ignore the beeps since some day there will be something behind me...

I like the warnings a lot. They help me park in the garage as well as on the street. I can turn on the front sensors either by pushing the button on the console or by putting the car in reverse and then back into drive. So when backing into a spot the rear goes on and then the front go on when I go back into drive. I have to admit I generally push the button. This past weekend we had a lot of snow and there was one occasion when the front was so covered with ice the warnings just screamed. To my mind not a biggie as the system is designed to assist not take the place of my brain.

I don't see how a bumper mounted sensor can help avoid scraping a curb.

It may just be the location of Lexus sensors because I could tell how close I was to a curb/parking pillar. I also was referring to pulling into a parking spot, not backing into one. Apologize for being a little vague on that one. It's just a matter of remembering to turn on the PDC everytime in that instance.

Our other car is a Mercedes gl and the front sensors are automatically on. But I have never had a problem with them in stop and go traffic. I agree with the original post that BMW should enable us to default to having the front sensors on. If Mercedes can figure out a way to do it, I have to believe BMW can as well.

Our other car is a Mercedes gl and the front sensors are automatically on. But I have never had a problem with them in stop and go traffic. I agree with the original post that BMW should enable us to default to having the front sensors on. If Mercedes can figure out a way to do it, I have to believe BMW can as well.

On my 535i, whenever the sensors come on the idrive display also shows an image showing which sensors are picking up an object. The only way to remove the image is to gain forward speed or turn off the sensors. How would this work if the sensors were on full time? I would not want the sensor display to constantly show or to blink on and off every time the car slowed or stopped or I came within a few feet of another vehicle in stop and go traffic.

Ah cmon you mean when my f10 gets here in 2 weeks I gotta manually engage front parking sensors every time? This is old technology my Lexus has had for 4 years. Its simple: Manually select always on with a Lexus and front and rear are engaged. Beyond about 6 mph/10kph it is automatically passive. No sensors activate in stop and go traffic. On occassion with heavy snowfall you have to manually disengage the system to account for build up on the sensors. Sometimes I gotta wonder how real world tested a car is before it ever goes into production? Don't even get me started on the useless split arm rest or the pitiful ashtray ( I am swapping mine out with dealer for a useful cup holder/cell phone pocket functionality ). Perhaps BMW could think real world a little better and less on being different!

Ah cmon you mean when my f10 gets here in 2 weeks I gotta manually engage front parking sensors every time? This is old technology my Lexus has had for 4 years. Its simple: Manually select always on with a Lexus and front and rear are engaged. Beyond about 6 mph/10kph it is automatically passive. No sensors activate in stop and go traffic. On occassion with heavy snowfall you have to manually disengage the system to account for build up on the sensors. Sometimes I gotta wonder how real world tested a car is before it ever goes into production? Don't even get me started on the useless split arm rest or the pitiful ashtray ( I am swapping mine out with dealer for a useful cup holder/cell phone pocket functionality ). Perhaps BMW could think real world a little better and less on being different!

Does anyone seriously need front sensors? C'mon, you can figure out where the front of the car is, can't you?

Hey markl53! I find the distnce sensors great as my garage is a tight fit with my motorcycle right in front of my front grill. Besides they are there so we should have full control not always be needing to turn on and off to do daily stops. It would change nothing for those who dont like sensors to have them shut off like on a Lexus but all the way on all the time as in a Lexus when wanted. Seems like bmw missed the mark on this to me. How about first time I ding the fender I send you the repair bill on bmw's behalf as you think they are in the right (kidding of course)

Hey markl53! I find the distnce sensors great as my garage is a tight fit with my motorcycle right in front of my front grill. Besides they are there so we should have full control not always be needing to turn on and off to do daily stops. It would change nothing for those who dont like sensors to have them shut off like on a Lexus but all the way on all the time as in a Lexus when wanted. Seems like bmw missed the mark on this to me. How about first time I ding the fender I send you the repair bill on bmw's behalf as you think they are in the right (kidding of course)

Well I was pretty much responding "tongue in cheek", haha. We all seem to get so involved with the small things about our cars that sometimes I think we forget to just drive them. Anyway, I don't have the sensors but I see how it could help in the front as well. Come to think of it, my garage doesn't have a lot of extra space but I've learned to look out the side window of the garage, seeing the side of my house to gauge my distance. Definitely not a high-tech method!